Carrier-sorting device for pneumatic-dispatch systems



June 24. 1924. 1,499,318 J. G. MACLAREN cmnmn sormue DWI-0E FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed May 6. 1921 L gmnmbofa JHMES E. MFIEL HREN Patented June 24, 1924.

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= cmmmsomme nnvron non Application filed- May 6,

To all whom it may mama:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. MAo'eARnN, a citizen of the United States residingat Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester 5 and State ofNewtYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can rier-Sorting Devices for Pneumatic-Dispatch Systems, of which thefollowing is a specification. 7 v This inventionrelates" to carrier sorting devices for pneumatic-dispatch systems.

Devices of thisgenerali nature for use in selectively separating vcarriers into two classes as they approach the outlet end of the conveying tubes-"are'wellhnown in the art. Such separating devices ordinarily include positivelyoperating carrier ejecting means connected through latching mechanism with a switch or gate, the latching mechanism being operated or" not in accord ance with the conformation of an approaching carrier to control the interaction between the gate and the ejecting means and thereby determine through which o-ftwo outlets the carrier will be discharged.

It has been found in practice that the use of positively acting ejecting means has been open to the serious objection that the forcibly discharged carriers could not be elfecso tively controlled and handled without the use of special shield or guard members. Furthermore the complicated nature of the mechanism which arose out of the-- useof the ejecting devices referred to; together with the necessary accompanying. spring members and other special parts, caused the apparatus to getout of order at frequent intervals with a consequent failure of the, mechanism to perform its selecting function. It is the object of this invention to provide a carrier sorting or separating device which will, be free from the objectionable features referred to, and which will perform its function without the use of special means for positively throwing the carriers into one of the discharge openings. The invention includes a gate member and means for latching the gate member in position across one of the openings in rigid connection with a staabutting thereagainst to topple from the rigidly-held gate into the other outlet.

In the drawing, I Figure 1 is a view inhorizontal sectionof a carrier sorting device'embodying a pre ferred forin of the invention.

tionary part to thereby cause the carriers NEUMAimc-nrsrare 1m y i 1921. serial No. 467,442.

igure 2 is a vertical sectional s dev ce shown in Figure 1' and showing the device inone of its operating positions:

Figure 3 a View si ilar; to' Fig, 6 .4 showing the device in the other ape-rating position; 7 3V I Referring to the drawing for a moredetailed description, a tube section 1' is mates to'be introduced intoand tqform part of pneumatic dispatch tube. The tube section 1 is adapted to receive carriers at the eppi-z mlet port 2 andis proyided with a gateoif deflecting member which can-be extended across the base o'f-thetubu lar section to cause the carriers tor topple through the-'- latera'l' discharge opening 4; or which take a non-restrieti-ng position, as indicated in Figure 3, to permit thegarriereto downward through the; tubular section and 7 through the lower outlet p x q The gate member 3, is mounted to rock on a pivot pin 6 mounted in; and between apair I of bracket arms 7 projecting horizontally from the tube section'- 1- adja'c'ent th uppei; end of an spar-liege formed in the; Sid'fif the tube section. The gate member 3 iSP Q,- vided at its outer end with a weights is preferably mounted between the side meme. bers of the sheet metal gate member 3. The gate member is formed at its other extreirh ity into an arm 10 which projects normally into the base of thetube-sectiorr and ishe'ldin a substantially horizontal position against the upper edge of thefopening 8 by 00 theaction of the weight member: 9 j j A Between the side members ef'the" arm 10 a latch member. 11 is} pivoted-on the" 1. 1

and isprovided with a weight niember 13 which tends to hold the hoeked latch arm 14 ofthe latch member in engagement with the upper surface of a pin 15 mounted-in a fixed position in the s'tationary bracket members 7 already referred to. The latch member'is also provided with a forwardly projecting arm- 16 havingan actuating lug 17 normally extending upwardly through a perforation 18 with which the arm 10 is provided. I p Y r In the operation of the device a descends ing carrier 19 having its ends provided withrec'esses 20 will engage the upper surface of the arm 10 in the manner indicated in full lines in Figure 2, but,- as the recess 20 receives the lug 17, the lug 20 is potengaged or depressed with relation to the arm 10. The arm is thereupon to the the: lug 17 angular ,gp'osition indicated indotted lines. further movement of the arm being prevented by the direct engagement of the hook 21 on the latch arm 14 with the stop pin 15.

It will be seen that the descent of the carrier in the tube is checked by the gate member 10 which swings to the inclined position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and is rigidly held in that position, the 1m clination of the gate being" sufficient to cause the carrier to topple outwardly over the adjacent lower edge 22 of the discharge opening fl in the side wall of the tube, V A carrier such as that shown at 23 in Fig ure '3 of the drawing which has a flash or non-recessed end will engage and depress with relation to the gate member lOJthereby tripping the latch member 14.

and permitting the gate 10 to swing downwardly into the tube section and permit the carrier28 to pass downwardly through the exit port 5, as will be clear,

lt will be seen that'the mechanism-thus provided is positive and certain in its operation and that the carriers are caused to topple through the opening t with their momentum checked so that no guard or other protecting devices are required.

What isclaimed is 3 7 1. A carrier sorting device for pneumatic dispatch tubes' comprising a tube terminal member having two outlet ports, a gate member normally extending across one, of

sa'idoutlet'ports, and a latch carried by said gateImember for d rectly engaging a fixed part or" said terminal member and maintain ing the gate in closed relation to said port; said latch permitting the gate to assume an inclinedrposition to cause the carriers to topple outwardly about a pivotal point coincident'with the base thereof and through i the other outlet port;

2., Acarried sorting device for pneumatic dispatch tubes comprising tube terminal n emb'er havlng two outlet ports,'oneo1 said I ports being in line with the direction of travel ot'the'carriers and the other port being located in the side of said terminal .member, a gate member normally extending across 7 said outlet port 'inthe' line oi travel of the CtlITlGTS, and a latch carriedrby said gate 'member' tor directly engaging a'fixed "part'of-said terminal member and mainriers t t0pple outwardly about a pivotal tainingthe gate in closed relation to said outlet port 'ih'the line of travel of the carriers 'said'latch permitting the gate to assume an lnclined position to causethe car p oii tpcoincident'with the base thereof and through the outlet-port the side of said terminal member.

Acarrier sorting device for pneumatic dispatchtubes comprising a tubetermin al y member'havingtwo outlet portsyone of said ports being in line with the direction oftravel of the carriers andthe other port being located in the side of said terminal member bracket members carried by said termina member onthe side opposite said latera port, a gate member pivoted in said bracket members and normally extending across the outlet port or" said terminal member in line with thedirection'ot travel of the carriers a latch carried by said gate member, and a latch engaging member carried by said bracket members, said latch being formed to engage said latch engaging member to there by maintain the gate in closed position to said outlet port in the line travel of said carriers, said. latch permitting the gate to assume an inclined position to cause the carriers to topple outwardly about a pivotal point coincident with the base and through. a

dispatch tubes comprising a tube terninal member having two outlet ports, one ofisa I 7 ports being in line with the direction o1 travel I of the carriers andy-the other port bein located in the side of said-terminalimember', bracket members mounted on the'side of said'terminal member'opposit'e said lateral port, agate member pivoted in said bracketmembers and extending into said terminal memben a weight 'fon'causing said gate member to normally maintain a position ,eX- tending across the outlet port of said terminal member in line with the direction of travel of said carriers, a latch carried by said gate member, a latch engaging member carried by said bracket member, and a weight'carried by said latch 'me'mber, said weight causing said latch member to nor mally engage said latch engaging member to thereby maintain the gate in closed relation to said outlet port in the line of travel of said carriers, said latch having a trigger member arranged to be engaged by carriers ofa certain class to preventxthe engagement of said latch with'said latch engaging mem her and allow the gate to be swung to open position'by the impact of a carrier therewith.

5. A separator device for carrier dispatch mechanism having therein, incombination with carriers of different kinds and means for guiding them in a predetermined path, an abutment member projecting into the path of movement of the carriers and normally lying'in a plane extending cross-wise of saidpath, but movable :out of such. path by the moving carriers, a fixed element, and means for limiting'the movement of the abutment member by locking it to saidfixed element whereby'moment-arily t0 arrest the' movement of a part at least of the advancing end of the carrier.

bination with carriers of difierent "kindsand a tube guiding them a predeter; inec rec-, tilinear path, an abutment elementnormally extending cross-wise of the path of the can riers for engagement and movement there-- by, and detector mean operated by carriers approaching the abutment member having a part adapted to interlock with means fixed to said tube for limiting the movement of the abutment member whereby momentarily to arrest the movement of a part at least of the advancing end of the carrier.

1. A separator device for pneumatic dispatch s 'stems, comprising a tube having an opening herein for the lateral discharge of carriers. an abutment element normall} ,ar-

ranged within said tube and movable bv ment member normally projecting into the tube but movable therefrom, and means comprising part normally positioned for in terlocking engagement with a fixed element whereby substantial movement of the abutment member is prevented when engaged by an approaching carrier of one kind. said locking means being rendered inoperative by approaching carriers of another kind.

9. In combination with a pneumatic dispatch tube having a lateral discharge opening for the ejection of carriers, a'n abutment member normally extending across the tube near the lower edge of the opening in a position to cause the center of gravity of an advancing carrier to describe a curvilinear path having its center at the point of contact of the advancingend of the carrier with the abutment member, and looking means having a fixed element for positively retaining said abutment in normal position but adapted to be rendered inoperative by carriers of a certain kind.

10. Carrier dispatch mechanism having therein an assortipg device for carriers of different kinds moving successively in a predetermined pa-th, comprising a movable abutment member having a carrier engaging surface operatively positioned in a plane substantially normal to said path and arranged momentarily to arrest a part at least of the advancing end of a carrier, a movable detector normally projecting into said path, and means normally operative positively to detain the abutment member substantially in normal operative position, said detaining means being rendered inoperative by a carrier of one of said kinds. 7

l1. Selector mechanism; for easier dispatch systems comprising a lever abutmentmember normally positioned to engage and arrest the movement of a part at least of the advancing end of a carrier, resilient means for retaining the abutment member in normal position, a latch member asso'ci- 7 ated with the abutment memberand engageable with a fixed element whereby positively to retain the abutment member in normal positionand means ,actuable by carriers of predetermined type for rendering the latch member inoperative. a l' 12. In combination with a pneumatic dis patch tube. having a lateral discharge, opening for the ejection of a carrier, a movable abutment member normally extending transversely across the tube for engagement with the advancing end of an approaching carrier, whereby to cause the following end of such carrier to describe an are about the advancing end as a center in moving outwardly through the opening, and means for supporting such abutment under the blow of impact of an approaching carrier, said means comprising a fixed member and a latch engageable therewith.

13. In combination with a pneumatic tube having a lateral discharge opening for carriers, an abutment lever pivotally supported at a point outside said tube and substantially opposite said opening, said lever having an arm projecting into said tube and terminating adjacent to said opening, a detector lever pivot-ally supported upon said lever arm and provided at one end with detector element arranged within the tube and projecting above said arm, said lever having a hook at its other end, and a fixed pin for engagement by said hook.

14. A carrier selectormechanism for use with pneumatic tube systems comprising a supporting structure constructed and arranged for attachment to the extremity of a tube, a movable abutment supported thereon, detector means carried by the abutment,

a fixed element, and a retaining device associated with said detector means and nor mally contacting with and positioned for operative interengagement with said fixed element for positively limiting movement of theabutment. a y

15. A carrier selector device for use with pneumatic tubes comprising a pair of spaced bracket members arrangeddn substantially parallel relation, an abut-ment lever mounted between said members and piv- 1 oted upon a pin extending transversely between said members, a detector lever pivoted upon said abutment lever and also arranged between the bracket members, and a latch hook associated with said detector le 130 ver and engageable with a pin secured in the respective bracket members.

16. A selector mechanism having a lever comprising parallel spaced abutment elements, and a detector lever pivotally mounted upon said abutment lever and arranged in a plane intermediate said parallel elements, said detector lever being provided at the latch element inoperative, and a shock absorbing device to limit movement of the abutment underimpact of a carrier when the latch element has been released,

18. Selector mechanism for assorting oar riers of different kinds passing through a guiding tube comprising a movable abutment member normally disposed transversely of the tube, a latch carried by the abutment and engageable with a fixed member to limit movement of the abutment under impact of a carrier, means actuable by certain carriers for rendering the latch inoperative, and bufier means for limiting movement of the latch when'moved by a carrier after the latch has been rendered inoperative.

JAMES G. MAGLABEN. 

